Exploring My Strange Bible

Tim Mackie
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  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Welcome to Exploring My Strange Bible by Tim Mackie, lead theologian and co-founder of BibleProject.

  1. 19H AGO

    The Surprising, Actual Story of Genesis 1-2

    In modern Western culture, we have two very different narratives swirling around the first two pages of the Bible. In the first narrative, the creation story in Genesis 1-2 represents a literal seven days, and this all happened only a few thousand years ago. In the second narrative, earth and its inhabitants took billions of years to evolve into their present form—and therefore, Bible-believing Christians are fools. What if both these narratives miss the main point of what Genesis 1-2 is all about? In this lecture, Tim explores the Bible’s creation story alongside other ancient creation stories, revealing a very different narrative about the origin of life, our purpose and identity as humans, and what all of this tells us about the God of the Bible. Tim taught this lecture in January 2016 at Bridgetown Church in Portland, Oregon. REFERENCED RESOURCES Nothing: A Very Short Introduction by Frank CloseThe Lost World of Genesis One: Ancient Cosmology and the Origins Debate by John H. WaltonThe Seven Pillars of Creation: The Bible, Science, and the Ecology of Wonder by William P. BrownCheck out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books.SHOW MUSIC “Nob Hill (Instrumental)” by DrexlerSHOW CREDITS Production of today’s episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Aaron Olsen edited and remastered today’s episode. JB Witty writes our show notes. Powered and distributed by Simplecast. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    1h 43m

  2. JAN 9

    Science and Faith (Remastered)

    Many people view science and religious faith as bitter enemies with conflicting views of the universe, especially when you consider the scientific explanation for the universe’s origin versus the biblical account. But is this tension real, or is it based on a deep misunderstanding of what the Bible is and how it communicates? Genesis 1-2—written thousands of years ago—says many surprising things about the origins of the universe. But these chapters also leave most of our modern scientific questions unaddressed. So what do we make of this? In this 2011 lecture from a science and faith conference at Blackhawk Church in Madison, Wisconsin, Tim asks what it means to read the first two pages of the Bible as ancient Hebrew texts and considers how they might interact with modern scientific claims. OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT View this episode’s official transcript. REFERENCED RESOURCES The Lost World of Genesis One: Ancient Cosmology and the Origins Debate by John WaltonIn the Beginning... We Misunderstood: Interpreting Genesis 1 in Its Original Context by Johnnie V. Miller and John M. SodenAdam and the Genome: Reading Scripture after Genetic Science by Scott McKnight and Dennis VenemaScience, Creation and the Bible: Reconciling Rival Theories of Origins by Richard F. Carlson and Tremper Longman IIIEnuma Elis (ancient Babylonian creation narrative)Atrahasis Epic (ancient Babylonian cosmology text)Check out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books here.SHOW MUSIC “Nob Hill Instrumental” by DrexlerSHOW CREDITS Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Aaron Olsen edited and remastered today's episode. JB Witty does our show notes. Powered and distributed by Simplecast. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    55 min

  3. JAN 2

    When God Loves Your Enemy (Remastered)

    The Amazing Jonah E5 – We’ve come to the final episode of a five-part series on the book of Jonah. And this last part of the book is one of the most puzzling. After Jonah preaches his strange, five-word sermon, the people of Nineveh surprisingly repent. And when God forgives them, Jonah fumes with anger and berates God for being too gracious. In this episode, Tim closes out the story of Jonah, connecting it to Jesus’ challenging words to love and forgive our enemies. This message was given on September 1, 2013, at Door of Hope Church in Portland, Oregon. REFERENCED RESOURCES The Third Side: Why We Fight and How We Can Stop by William L. UryThe Powers That Be: Theology for a New Millennium by Walter WinkCheck out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books here.SHOW MUSIC “Nob Hill Instrumental” by DrexlerSHOW CREDITS Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Aaron Olsen edited and remastered today's episode. JB Witty does our show notes. Powered and distributed by Simplecast. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    46 min

  4. 12/26/2025

    Thrones and Ashes (Remastered)

    The Amazing Jonah E4 — After the great fish vomits Jonah onto the shores of Nineveh, the prophet finally—and begrudgingly—obeys God. Even though Jonah only utters a strange five-word sermon to the Ninevites, they still repent and turn to God. In this episode, Tim teaches on Jonah 3, while also discussing what the biblical word “repentance” means—and doesn’t mean. This message was given on August 25, 2013, at Door of Hope Church in Portland, Oregon. REFERENCED RESOURCES You! Jonah! by Thomas John CarlisleCheck out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books here.SHOW MUSIC “Nob Hill Instrumental” by DrexlerSHOW CREDITS Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Aaron Olsen edited and remastered today's episode. JB Witty does our show notes. Powered and distributed by Simplecast. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    55 min

  5. 12/19/2025

    A Severe Mercy (Remastered)

    The Amazing Jonah E3 — After he is thrown into the sea and swallowed by a fish, Jonah utters a strange and beautifully intricate poem from inside the fish’s belly. He is in a moment of crisis that is actually God’s way of bringing him to the end of himself. How can Jonah’s experience invite us to think about the moments of crisis in our own lives? In this message, Tim teaches from chapter 2 on this heavily ironic yet powerful moment in Jonah’s story. This message was given on August 18, 2013, at Door of Hope Church in Portland, Oregon. REFERENCED RESOURCES A Severe Mercy by Sheldon VanaukenCheck out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books here.SHOW MUSIC “Nob Hill Instrumental” by DrexlerSHOW CREDITS Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Aaron Olsen edited and remastered today's episode. JB Witty does our show notes. Powered and distributed by Simplecast. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    46 min

  6. 12/12/2025

    Asleep at the Wheel (Remastered)

    The Amazing Jonah E2 — Jonah is portrayed as God’s prophet, but ironically, he is the only person in the book who refuses to listen to God. How can this story invite us to consider our own lack of perception and awareness of God’s voice in our lives? In this message, Tim explores Jonah chapter 1, looking at the many ways that the prophet seems unable to hear God directly or through anything else that God sends his way. This message was given on August 11, 2013, at Door of Hope Church in Portland, Oregon. OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT  View this episode’s official transcript. REFERENCED RESOURCES A Long Obedience in the Same Direction: Discipleship in an Instant Society by Eugene H. PetersonCheck out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books here.SHOW MUSIC “Nob Hill Instrumental” by DrexlerSHOW CREDITS Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Aaron Olsen edited and remastered today's episode. JB Witty does our show notes. Powered and distributed by Simplecast. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    48 min

  7. 12/05/2025

    Running From Your Life (Remastered)

    The Amazing Jonah E1 — Many of us know the story of Jonah as the prophet who gets swallowed by a whale. And while that is part of the story, it’s only a couple sentences in a longer narrative. So who is Jonah? Why did he flee from God and board a boat to Tarshish? And why is his story even in the Bible? In this first message of a five-part series, Tim lays the groundwork for exploring Jonah’s story and also ponders why Jonah runs from God’s vision for his life—a choice we all face at some level in our lives. This message was given on August 4, 2013, at Door of Hope Church in Portland, Oregon. REFERENCED RESOURCES In the introduction, Tim references his professor, Dr. Ray Lubeck, who taught him to read the Bible as Hebrew literature. While it is not mentioned by name, Dr. Lubeck’s core work on the Bible as literature is Read the Bible for a Change: Understanding and Responding to God's Word.Check out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books here.SHOW MUSIC “Nob Hill Instrumental” by DrexlerSHOW CREDITS Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Aaron Olsen edited and remastered today's episode. JB Witty does our show notes.  Powered and distributed by Simplecast. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    48 min

  8. 12/02/2025

    What Is the Kingdom of Heaven?

    After his baptism and testing in the wilderness, Jesus leaves Nazareth for Capernaum. There, he begins his public ministry, inviting fishermen to follow him and calling on people to “repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven has come near.” So what is the “Kingdom of Heaven,” and what does it mean that it has come near? In this message, Tim teaches from Matthew 4:12-25 on Jesus’ beginning proclamation, the call of the first disciples, and his pattern of Kingdom teaching and healing, which still challenges how we order our lives and values today. OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT View this episode’s official transcript. REFERENCED RESOURCES Check out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books here.SHOW MUSIC “Nob Hill Instrumental” by DrexlerSHOW CREDITS Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Aaron Olsen edited and remastered today's episode. JB Witty does our show notes.  Powered and distributed by Simplecast. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    52 min
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About

Welcome to Exploring My Strange Bible by Tim Mackie, lead theologian and co-founder of BibleProject.

Information

  • Creator
    Tim Mackie
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    119
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2021 BibleProject
  • Show Website
    Exploring My Strange Bible

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